Whitney Houston Funeral May Take Place on Friday

Whitney Houston may receive a massive send-off to match her big, big voice.

According to numerous reports, the "I Will Always Love You" singer, who died Saturday at the age of 48, is being flown back to her hometown of Newark, N.J. on Monday as the family works to arrange the funeral, with an eye toward a massive service along the lines of Michael Jackson's memorial service at Los Angeles' Staples Center .

NBC New York reports that the Whigham Funeral Home in Newark will be handling the services. Though Whigham would not confirm or deny that it will be in charge of arrangements, the choice would make sense, as Whigham also handled the funerals for several of Houston's relatives, including her father.

Also read: Whitney Houston Didn't Drown, Family Says (Report)

Though funeral plans have yet to be solidified, sources tell the Associated Press that Houston's family is considering a Thursday wake and a Friday funeral at Newark's Prudential Center, which holds approximately 18,000 people.

Also read: Whitney Houston: Details of Death Emerge and Autopsy is Performed

(Houston's publicist told TheWrap that she had no information on funeral plans as of yet, but hopes to receive word "shortly.")

TMZ reports that Houston's body is being flown back east in the private jet of director Tyler Perry, who offered the use of the plane to the family after scrambling to the Beverly Hilton upon hearing of the singer's death.

Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 Saturday afternoon, after emergency responders were unable to revive the singer, who was unconscious and unresponsive when they arrived. A spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Police Department confirmed that a member of Houston's personal staff found the singer submerged in the bathtub of her room at the Beverly Hilton, and was pulled from the tub by one or more of her staff members.